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Old February 14, 2017   #3
HudsonValley
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a
Posts: 626
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1. I think it depends how soon they'll be planted out. I started mine in cells and potted up to 4" pots in 2016. I don't know whether it was necessary, but some were root-bound and blossoming by the time I planted them out -- then again, they must have been 6 or 8 weeks old by then. Still, they did just fine and continued to bloom until the first snow arrived in October. Dead-heading spent blossoms seemed to help.
2a. I started them indoors, around the perimeter of my T5 lights (maybe 6-7" away, but not directly under light, because the prime real estate went to tomatoes). They seemed happy enough and didn't get leggy.
2b. My grow lights are in the garage, which is heated to around 60 degrees; your daytime outdoor temperatures sound fine. They seem to be pretty tough little plants, even if your growing method isn't perfect.

I remember growing marigolds as a child, too, along with hot-pink and orange zinnias... Good luck in your nematode battle, Robert!
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